The Former Empress Roughly Hides Her Abilities - Chapter 76

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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【Chapter 76】

 

“The world is truly a beautiful place. Don’t you think so?”

 

“…?”

 

Logan, who had been confined while awaiting his fate, tilted his head in confusion.

 

He thought that finally Asil, the master of the mansion, was going to decide his destiny.

 

But his words sounded rather ominous.

 

“The fact that the world is made up of earth and sky must surely be for today’s sake.”

 

‘What does he mean by that?’

 

As soon as Logan realized that Rianel’s true identity was Professor Ensilen, he also recalled who Asil was.

 

‘That bastard who was the professor’s favorite student!’

 

He was notorious for being intelligent and full of schemes, so those words weren’t spoken without reason.

 

No matter how much he wracked his brain, he couldn’t figure out what meaning was implied.

 

‘I should have studied more if I knew this would happen!’

 

Logan rarely spent time regretting his past.

 

“Then I’ll untie you.”

 

“??”

 

His bewilderment was brief, as Logan was shocked when Asil actually untied his restraints.

 

“Were you really speaking from being in a good mood?”

 

“Do I look like such a foolish person who can’t distinguish between public and private matters when intoxicated with joy? How unfortunate.”

 

Of course, it was true that Asil was in a good mood.

 

He had received Rianel’s forgiveness, and she had promised to stay by his side.

 

So everything in the world seemed beautiful to him.

 

‘But I still can’t just release someone who harmed Master without reason.’

 

“I’m releasing you because Master requested it.”

 

Releasing Logan was solely because he was a useful pawn.

 

“Go and report to your superiors. Tell them you saw a witness during the process of disposing the documents, and you were delayed while tracking that person.”

 

Logan became somewhat calmer.

 

“Uh… wouldn’t it be better to keep completely silent about it?”

 

If he reported to the Temple, they would obviously bombard him with all sorts of questions, starting with who that tracker was, whether he lost them, and if so, why he lost them.

 

‘So wouldn’t it be better to act like nothing happened at all?’

 

“Since the orphanage has completely collapsed, even if you keep silent, the Temple will summon you and interrogate you about what happened. It’s better to report first before that happens.”

 

‘That’s… right. He makes sense.’

 

Logan had information he needed to obtain by infiltrating the Temple. He couldn’t arouse the Temple’s suspicion yet.

 

“What should I say when they ask about the witness? Should I say I didn’t see them?”

 

“No. That would rather arouse suspicion, so leak information about the witness. Just say you witnessed the man I’ll tell you about.”

 

Asil provided information about one person.

 

Age in his mid-50s. Family name Martis.

 

Currently unemployed, but once held the position of Minister of Finance…

 

“You don’t mean Royhum Martis? You want me to say I witnessed that man who’s a fugitive?”

 

“Is there anyone more suitable to frame than him?”

 

Asil explained calmly.

 

“Former Minister Royhum colluded with priests to embezzle the Princess Palace budget. Since they cooperated for years, it wouldn’t be strange if he knew the location of the abandoned orphanage.”

 

The reason he was hiding in the orphanage would also sound plausible if explained as using it as a hideout during his fugitive life.

 

As for why he got away, they could just say Royhum cleverly escaped.

 

“What if Royhum actually shows up?”

 

“He won’t appear. How can a dead man show himself?”

 

Logan blinked blankly, then realized the meaning of those words a beat later.

 

“You… you don’t mean you killed him?”

 

“He died from a fall. They say he slipped off a cliff while trying to escape from tax collectors… Anyway, this won’t be revealed. We plan to keep it quiet for now.”

 

Tax collectors were supposed to collect taxes, not people’s lives along with them.

 

It was a truth that would be revealed someday, but Asil planned to cover up the truth temporarily, even for the sake of the poor tax collectors.

 

And use it for his purposes as well.

 

‘That would be a clever plan, but.’

 

However, Logan was still worried.

 

“Isn’t it too out of the blue? Just conveying eyewitness testimony without physical evidence seems like it would lack credibility.”

 

“That’s why I scattered traces of Royhum’s life in the abandoned orphanage. If some of his belongings, including his tableware, are found, the Temple will believe it too.”

 

At the mention of using even personal effects so thoroughly, Logan shuddered.

 

‘Scary bastard.’

 

Like Professor Ensilen, her student also had inhuman aspects that matched his master. They just didn’t realize it themselves.

 

Really, he was fortunate not to be their enemy.

 

“Since you’ve been acting like a fool within the Temple, if you act appropriately clueless, you won’t be suspected.”

 

Logan was genuinely surprised.

 

“How did you know that?”

 

“If that weren’t the case, why would they entrust classified documents to someone they don’t trust?”

 

Since they thought he couldn’t read, they didn’t properly monitor him and just used him as a handyman.

 

“That’s right. I thought acting clueless would make it easier to access classified documents.”

 

Logan had been pretending to be illiterate to hide his true identity.

 

“Anyway, let’s go out.”

 

Asil opened the door and gestured with his chin.

 

Even while breathing in the outside air for the first time in a while, Logan hesitated in confusion.

 

No matter how much he had decided to defect.

 

“Are you really releasing me?”

 

He was suspicious about whether it was okay to leave like this.

 

‘This isn’t a ploy to lure me outside because he doesn’t want to leave bloodstains inside the mansion, is it?’

 

Even if he was safely released today, there was no guarantee that safety would continue until tomorrow.

 

‘It’s a problem even if I leave here. What if someday he remembers his grudge about getting shot in the leg with an arrow and tries to kill me?’

 

Since he couldn’t know exactly how Royhum died (this guy might have killed him from the start), and nobles were originally an untrustworthy bunch, he was suspicious.

 

“You don’t need to worry. Master said you would cooperate with us, if only for revenge.”

 

“How… how does she know that?”

 

Logan was shocked, as he hadn’t confided that fact to Rianel or anyone else.

 

How did the professor know that?

 

“Roughly.”

 

Asil’s answer was like this.

 

“She just knew.”

 

“?!??”

 

Logan’s mouth fell open.

 

‘What kind of nonsense is that?’

 

* * *

 

As Logan said, Asil was really in a good mood.

 

So much so that he would allow Duke Vincenheim, whom he usually kept from entering the mansion with various excuses, to visit.

 

“What an honor to see such a precious face like this.”

 

Duke Vincenheim, Callen, immediately spoke sarcastically upon seeing Asil.

 

Whether Rianel’s wishes were reflected or not.

 

He couldn’t like the bastard who had blocked him with all sorts of reasons when a father wanted to see his daughter.

 

“Yes, I was busy organizing internal family affairs.”

 

Asil’s injury was a secret.

 

Officially, he was on leave to conduct internal family discipline due to Joseph’s embezzlement case.

 

In reality, this excuse was so plausible that Callen couldn’t argue against it.

 

‘How truly irritating.’

 

That way of speaking that left him speechless reminded him exactly of someone.

 

“Where is my daughter?”

 

Callen hadn’t come simply to see Rianel’s face. During his sick leave absence from work, there was new information he needed to convey to her.

 

“She is sleeping.”

 

Asil answered peacefully.

 

For a moment, a smile flickered across his lips.

 

Though it was brief, having loved someone himself, Callen immediately caught the meaning behind it.

 

“I’m asking just in case, but Bureau Director, do you have romantic feelings for my daughter?”

 

An ordinary person would have been suspicious from the moment Asil volunteered to provide nursing care for Rianel, but Callen had a reason for not jumping to conclusions.

 

‘Someone obsessed with his mentor wouldn’t cling to my daughter.’

 

He had heard that Asil was somewhat fond of Rianel, but knowing his obsession with the Special Tax Bureau itself, he thought it was just an extension of that…

 

‘Surely he’s not bothering her by expressing one-sided interest?’

 

Hearing Callen’s suspicion, Asil immediately denied it.

 

“Of course not.”

 

Right, there’s no way this guy would do that.

 

Callen relaxed and took a sip of tea.

 

“We are courting each other with good intentions.”

 

Spurt—

 

The tea that came out of his mouth went right back into the teacup.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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